Ultrasonic probe

ABSTRACT

A body-cavity-insertion-type probe wherein an internal unit (internal assembly) has an oscillator unit, a relay board, and electronic circuit board, and a backing member. The backing member is retained in a state of being housed inside a backing case, and the backing case is retained by two recesses formed in an inside surface of a heat dissipation shell as a probe head case. An exhaust heat sheet is joined to a peripheral region of a back surface of the electronic circuit board. A rear wing and a front wing of the exhaust heat sheet are joined to the backing case.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe, and in particular, to a body cavity insertion type ultrasonic probe having a two-dimensional array transducer.

BACKGROUND ART

In the medical field, ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses are being used. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is a device that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from a living body, and forms an ultrasound image based on a reception signal obtained by the transmission and reception of the ultrasound. The transmission and reception of the ultrasound are executed by an ultrasonic probe. Various probes are commercialized, including a body cavity insertion type probe. The body cavity insertion type probe is inserted into the esophagus, the rectum, the vagina, or the like, and transmits and receives the ultrasound inside the body. Of these, the esophagus probe is a probe inserted into the esophagus, and more specifically, is a probe that transmits and receives ultrasound to and from the heart, while in the esophagus.

In recent years, three-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis is becoming more wide-spread. In this technique, ultrasound is transmitted and received to and from a three-dimensional space in a living body, to acquire volume data, and the volume data are used to form a three-dimensional image representing the three-dimensional space, a two-dimensional tomographic image representing an arbitrary cross section of the three-dimensional space, or the like. In order to transmit and receive the ultrasound to and from the three-dimensional space, in a probe head, in general, a two-dimensional array transducer is provided. The two-dimensional array transducer is formed by a plurality of transducer elements (for example, a few thousand transducer elements) arranged two-dimensionally.

Patent Document 1 discloses an esophagus probe for three-dimensional ultrasound diagnosis. A transducer unit is placed in the head of the esophagus probe. The transducer unit comprises a two-dimensional array transducer, an interface layer, an electronic circuit (integrated circuit), a backing layer, a heat sink, or the like, provided in that order from the side of a living tissue. The electronic circuit is a circuit that executes channel reduction; that is, a circuit for reducing the number of signal lines. The heat sink is a circuit that takes away heat generated in the electronic circuit.

RELATED ART REFERENCE Patent Document [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-507581 A DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In a body cavity insertion type probe, it is necessary to firmly fix an inner unit in a probe head. Here, the inner unit is a layered structure including, for example, an array transducer, an interface board, an electronic circuit board, a backing, and the like. Of these elements, the backing normally forms the lowermost layer, and has a relatively large size. Therefore, a fixation method may be considered in which the backing is held by the probe head case. However, because the backing is formed by a relatively soft material, it is difficult to firmly fix the inner unit by the above-described fixation method.

When an electronic circuit board for channel reduction is to be provided in the probe head, heat dissipation from the electronic circuit becomes a problem. For example, when the heat generated in the electronic circuit board is conducted to the two-dimensional array transducer, the temperature of the two-dimensional array transducer becomes high, resulting in a problem such as degradation of the two-dimensional array transducer and an increase in the temperature of the transmission/reception surface. Thus, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for discharging the heat generated in the electronic circuit board.

The above-described Patent Document 1 does not disclose a specific fixation method of the inner unit. In Patent Document 1, the heat sink is connected to the electronic circuit board with the backing therebetween, but there is a possibility that sufficient heat dissipation cannot be achieved with such a structure.

Solution to Problem

An advantage of the present invention is that, in an ultrasonic probe, an inner unit having an array transducer and a backing is reliably fixed in a probe head case. Another advantage of the present invention is that, in an ultrasonic probe, a structure is realized in which heat generated in the electronic circuit board can be sufficiently discharged.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic probe comprising: an inner unit including an array transducer having a plurality of transducer elements, a backing member that is provided on a side of a back surface of the array transducer and that attenuates ultrasound, and a backing case that surrounds and holds the backing member; and a probe head case that holds the backing case, wherein the inner unit is held by the probe head case via the backing case.

According to the above-described configuration, while all or a part of an inner unit (inner assembly) is housed in a probe head case, the backing case is held by the probe head case. The inner unit forms a layered structure, and at least a back surface side end (backing portion on the non-transmission/reception side) in the inner unit is used as a portion for fixing the inner unit. Further, an intermediate portion of the inner unit may be directly or indirectly held by the probe head case. More specifically, on the back surface side of the array transducer, the backing member for absorbing the ultrasound is placed directly or indirectly with one or a plurality of other members therebetween. On the outer side of the backing member, the backing case is provided. The backing case has a function to surround (or sandwich) the backing member, and to hold the backing member. The backing member itself is formed from a relatively soft material, but by surrounding the backing member with the backing case, which is a relatively hard member, the backing case can function as an outer skeleton, and the back surface side end of the inner unit may be used as the portion to be held. Preferably, the backing case further has a function of thermal conduction. For example, the backing case is formed from a metal having superior thermal conductivity. According to such a configuration, the heat conducted from the backing member to the backing case or from a heat generating structure to the backing case can be discharged to a probe head case (heat discharge shell in an embodiment described below). Preferably, a structure is employed in which, in a range of not obstructing entry of the ultrasound into the backing member, a larger part of the outer surface of the backing member is covered by the backing case.

According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, the backing case has a plurality of side surface plates that cover a plurality of side surfaces of the backing member. For example, the backing case may be configured to have two side surface plates that oppose each other. According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, the backing case has four side surface plates that cover four side surfaces of the backing member. According to this configuration, the backing member can be stably held. According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, the backing case has a back surface plate that is connected to the plurality of the side surface plates and that covers a back surface of the backing member. According to such a configuration, rigidity of the backing case can be improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, the backing case has a front surface plate which is a plate provided on a front surface of the backing case and which has an opening through which a part of the backing member passes. According to such a configuration, the rigidity of the backing case can be improved, and thermal conductivity to the backing case can be improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, a right side inner surface and a left side inner surface of the probe head case hold a right end and a left end of the backing case. According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, a right side depression that houses the right end of the backing case is formed on the right side inner surface of the probe head case, and a left side depression that houses the left end of the backing case is formed on the left side inner surface of the probe head case. According to such a configuration, the inner unit can be firmly held by the probe head case, and, at the same time, a positioning error can be reduced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, the inner unit includes an electronic circuit board having an electronic circuit that is electrically connected to the plurality of transducer elements, and heat generated in the electronic circuit board is conducted to the probe head case through the backing case. According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, a heat conductive sheet is provided between the electronic circuit board and the backing member, the heat conductive sheet has a body portion and at least one wing that extends from the body portion toward an outer side, and the wing is joined to an outer surface of the backing case. According to such a configuration, the heat generated in the electronic circuit board can be conducted to the backing case through the heat conductive sheet (heat dissipation sheet); more specifically, the wing thereof. The body portion in the heat conductive sheet is preferably a portion joined to the electronic circuit board. Preferably, the heat conductive sheet is a flexible, sheet-shaped member. According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, the heat conductive sheet has a front side wing and a rear side wing, and the front side wing and the rear side wing are joined to the outer surface of the backing case.

The electronic circuit described above forms at least one of a transmission signal processing circuit and a reception signal processing circuit, and preferably forms both processing circuits. The electronic circuit is preferably a channel reduction circuit. The channel reduction circuit generates, during transmission, a plurality of transmission drive signals from one transmission trigger signal by the array transducer as a whole or in a predetermined unit, and generates, during reception, one group reception signal from a plurality of reception signals in a predetermined unit. Preferably, the electronic circuit board is a semiconductor board on a surface of which an electronic circuit is formed and that does not have a thick package. Such an electronic circuit board may be directly joined on the back surface side of the array transducer, but preferably, the electronic circuit board is connected to the array transducer with an interface board therebetween. As the interface board, a board may be used which has a wiring converting function or the like. When the thermal conductivity of the heat dissipation member such as the heat dissipation sheet is higher than the thermal conductivity of the interface board, the heat generated in the electronic circuit can be more readily moved to the heat dissipation member. The array transducer is in general formed from a material having a piezoelectric characteristic, and a MUT (Micro-Machined Ultrasonic Transducer) may be used. Preferably, the probe head case is a skeleton of the probe head and, at the same time, a heat discharge member. The probe head case is formed with a member having a large surface area and superior thermal conductivity. With the use of such a heat discharge structure, it becomes possible to inhibit the temperature increase of the electronic circuit board while discharging the heat from the entirety of the heat discharge structure to the environment and without causing a local temperature increase. The ultrasonic probe is preferably a body cavity insertion type probe, and more preferably a transesophageal probe having a 2D array transducer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an XZ cross sectional diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a body cavity insertion type probe according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a YZ cross sectional diagram of the probe shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing a heat discharge shell forming a probe head case.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a transducer unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example structure of a transmission and reception circuit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example method of manufacturing a probe according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining adhesion of a heat dissipation sheet to a primary layered structure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining adhesion of a backing and a case.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a protrusion provided on the backing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining folding and adhesion of front and rear wings.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining folding of a front side flexible board.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a backing and a heat dissipation member according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship between a transmission/reception region and the backing member joining region.

FIG. 14 is a perspective diagram showing a second example structure of a backing case.

FIG. 15 is a perspective diagram showing a third example structure of a backing case.

FIG. 16 is a perspective diagram showing a fourth example structure of a backing case.

EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an ultrasonic probe of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross sectional diagram (XZ cross sectional diagram) of the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe is a body cavity insertion type probe, and, in particular, an esophagus probe.

In FIG. 1, a probe 10 comprises a probe head 12, an insertion tube 13, an operation unit, a probe cable, etc. In the present embodiment, the probe head 12 is a portion that is inserted into the esophagus in the living body and that transmits and receives ultrasound while in the esophagus. During the ultrasound diagnosis, the probe head 12 is positioned in the esophagus such that a site to be diagnosed in a heart is included in a three-dimensional space which is an ultrasound transmission/reception region.

The inside of the probe head 12 is hollow, and an inner assembly 14 is placed therein. Alternatively, a filler material such as a resin may be filled around the inner assembly 14. The inner assembly 14 transmits and receives ultrasound in a Z direction; that is, a downward direction in FIG. 1. An X direction is a central axis direction of the probe head 12, the Z direction is the transmission/reception direction, and a Y direction is defined as a direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Z direction. The inner assembly 14 is more specifically placed inside a heat discharge shell 16. The heat discharge shell 16 is a hard, hollow container formed by a heat conductive member such as copper, and forms a probe head case. In other words, the heat discharge shell 16 forms an outer skeleton or a structure in the probe head 12. On an outer side of the heat discharge shell 16, an outer skin 18 is provided which is relatively soft and which is formed from a resin or the like having an insulating characteristic. On a side of the living body tissue of the heat discharge shell 16, an opening 16D is formed, and a part of the inner assembly 14 protrudes to the outer side of the heat discharge shell 16 through the opening 16D. The inner assembly 14 comprises a transducer unit 20, an interface board 22, an electronic circuit board 24, a backing member 26, a heat dissipation sheet having a plurality of wings, a backing case 33, etc., as will be described below. These members will be described below in detail.

As will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, the array transducer is formed by a plurality of transducer elements arranged along the X direction and the Y direction, and more specifically, is formed by a few thousand transducer elements. An ultrasound beam is formed by the array transducer and is electrically scanned. As the method of electrical scanning, an electron sector scanning method or the like is known. In the present embodiment, the ultrasound beam can be two-dimensionally scanned, and, with such a scan, a three-dimensional space is formed. A three-dimensional ultrasound image or the like representing the three-dimensional space can be formed by processing volume data acquired from the three-dimensional space. As shown in FIG. 1, on the side of the living body of the outer skin 18, an opening 18A is formed, and a part of the transducer unit 20 on the living body side expands and extends from the opening 18A to the living body side. In the execution of the ultrasound diagnosis, a state is created in which a surface of the transducer unit 20 on the living body side; that is, the transmission/reception surface, is in close contact with the inner surface of the esophagus which is a living body tissue surface.

On the back surface side of the transducer unit 20; that is, the upper side in FIG. 1, the interface board 22 is provided. The interface board 22 has a function to electrically connect the array transducer and an electronic circuit formed on the electronic circuit board 24. In the present embodiment, the interface board 22 is formed by a multilayer board, and has a lead array 40. The lead array 40 consists of a plurality of signal lines that electrically connect between the plurality of transducer elements and a plurality of terminals on the electronic circuit. The interface board 22 may alternatively be an interposer having an arrangement conversion function. That is, the electrode arrangement on the side of the array transducer and the electrode arrangement on the side of the electronic circuit may differ from each other. In the present embodiment, the interface board 22 also has a function to connect flexible boards 36 and 38 to be described below and the electronic circuit, and, for this purpose, groups of connection lines 42 and 44 are provided in the interface board 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the interface board 22 is placed in the opening 16D formed in the heat discharge shell 16. The basic material of the interface board 22 is, for example, ceramic having an insulating characteristic.

On the back surface side of the interface board 22; that is, the upper side in FIG. 1, the electronic circuit board 24 is provided. The electronic circuit board 24 has an electronic circuit for channel reduction. Specifically, the electronic circuit generates, during transmission, a plurality of transmission drive signals based on a transmission trigger signal transmitted from a side of a device body for the array transducer as a whole or in a predetermined unit, and supplies the transmission drive signals to the array transducer. During reception, the electronic circuit executes a phased summing process for a plurality of reception signals in units of element group, and generates a group reception signal. By providing such a channel reduction circuit, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of signal lines connected to the probe head. For example, the signals for all transducer elements, which are provided in a few thousand in number, can be processed by connecting only about 100 signal lines. In the present embodiment, the electronic circuit board 24 is formed by a substantially exposed semiconductor board on a surface of which the electronic circuit is formed. In other words, a package functioning as an outer cover is not provided, and the entirety of the semiconductor board is protected by a thin protection layer. On a surface 24A of the electronic circuit board 24 on the living body side, a plurality of electrodes corresponding to the plurality of transducer elements are formed. The lead array 40 described above is connected to the plurality of electrodes. A thickness of the electronic circuit board 24 in the Z direction is, for example, about 0.6 mm. A thickness of the above-described interface board 22 in the Z direction is, for example, about 1 mm.

On a back surface 24B of the electronic circuit board 24, there are set an ultrasound propagation region which is a center region and a heat dissipation region which is a peripheral region. The backing member 26 is joined to the ultrasound propagation region. More specifically, the backing member 26 is formed by a block-shaped body 48 and a protrusion 46 formed on the living body side of the body 48, and a surface of the protrusion 46 on the living body side is joined to the ultrasound propagation region. The heat dissipation sheet is joined to the peripheral region, as will be described later in detail. More specifically, the heat dissipation sheet has an opening, the protrusion 46 is joined to the center part on the back surface side of the electronic circuit board 24 through the opening, and, with such a configuration, the heat dissipation sheet is sandwiched between the body 48 of the backing member 26 and the heat dissipation region which is the peripheral region of the electronic circuit board 24. The heat dissipation sheet has a rear wing 30 and a front wing 32 shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the heat dissipation sheet also has a right wing and a left wing, which are not shown in FIG. 1. The backing member 26 scatters and attenuates unnecessary ultrasound emitted to the back surface side. For example, the backing member 26 has an acoustic attenuation characteristic of about 6˜15 dB/cmMHz.

The backing member is formed, for example, by mixing tungsten, a tungsten compound, or the like into a resin. In this case, as the resin, there may be exemplified a thermoplastic resin such as nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or the like; a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, a urea resin, a melanin resin, or the like; and various rubbers. In manufacturing the backing member, in order to realize a desired acoustic impedance and a desired acoustic attenuation characteristic, a suitable amount of powder of tungsten, the tungsten compound, or the like is mixed into the resin. Alternatively, other materials may be mixed.

The heat dissipation sheet described above is formed, for example, from a carbon sheet, a graphite sheet, a sheet made of a metal such as copper, or the like, and is formed from a material having superior thermal conductivity. A thickness of the backing member 26 in the Z direction is, for example, about 3 mm.

The backing member 26 is surrounded by the backing case 33 except for the end on the living body side. That is, the body 48 of the backing member 26 is housed in the backing case 33. The backing case 33 functions as a heat conductive member and a jig. In the present embodiment, the rear wing 30 and the front wing 32 in the heat dissipation sheet are folded in a manner to extend along the outer surface of the backing case 33, and are adhered on the outer surface of the backing case 33. Therefore, the heat moves from the back surface side of the electronic circuit board 24 to the backing case 33 through the rear wing 30 and the front wing 32. As shown in FIG. 2 described below, the backing case 33 is joined and fixed to the heat discharge shell 16, and heat conduction occurs from the backing case 33 to the heat discharge shell 16. In addition, the heat discharge shell 16 holds and fixes the backing case 33 in the probe head 12. In addition to the above, heat is conducted from the back surface side of the electronic circuit board 24 to the heat discharge shell 16 through the right wing and the left wing of the heat dissipation sheet, as will be described below in detail.

On the ends on the back surface side of the interface board 22; that is, a non-living body side, flexible boards 36 and 38 are connected. Each of the flexible boards 36 and 38 is formed from an FPC (flexible printed circuit board), and has a wiring pattern. A plurality of signal lines are connected to the ends of the flexible boards 36 and 38 on the side of the device body. However, these signal lines are not shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the plurality of signal lines may be connected to the flexible boards 36 and 38 by means of a connector. As shown in FIG. 2, in the heat discharge shell 16, a slit 16A is formed on each of the side surfaces on both sides in the Y direction. The right wing and the left wing to be described later are inserted into the two slits 16A. In the present embodiment, the flexible board 38 is provided in addition to the flexible board 36, in order to reliably connect a large number of signal lines. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible board 38 extends from a tip edge on the interface board 22 to the upper part, passes on the back surface side of the inner assembly 14; that is, the upper part in FIG. 1, and extends toward the body of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. Alternatively, the flexible board 38 may be omitted so long as the connection of the plurality of signal lines can be reliably achieved.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section in a direction shown by II in FIG. 1; that is, the YZ cross section. As already described, the probe head 12 has the heat discharge shell 16. The heat discharge shell 16 functions as a heat conductive structure; that is, a heat discharge structure, and also as a probe head case. The heat discharge shell 16 is covered by the outer skin 18. The inner assembly 14 is provided inside the probe head 12, and comprises the transducer unit 20, the interface board 22, the electronic circuit board 24, the backing member 26, and the backing case 33, provided in that order from the living body side. The heat dissipation sheet is sandwiched between the electronic circuit board 24 and the backing member 26. The heat dissipation sheet includes a body portion 77 serving as a heat reception portion, and a plurality of wings connected thereto. The plurality of wings more specifically include the rear wing and the front wing described above, and the right wing 50 and the left wing 52 shown in FIG. 2. The right wing 50 and the left wing 52 are inserted into a pair of the slits 16A formed on right and left side walls of the heat discharge shell 16. Each slit 16A is a through channel extending along the X direction. The body portion 77 in the heat dissipation sheet is a portion sandwiched between the electronic circuit board 24 and the backing member 26, and a front surface of the body portion 77 is joined to the peripheral region on the back surface of the electronic circuit board 24. The right wing 50 and the left wing 52 have first portions 50 a and 52 a connected to the body portions 77 and passing through the slits 16A, and second portions 50 b and 52 b connected to the first portions 50 a and 52 a and serving as an extension which extends vertically upward. The second portions 50 b and 52 b are folded and adhered on the outer surface of the heat discharge shell 16. More specifically, a pair of recesses 16B are formed on the outer wall surface of the heat discharge shell 16, and the pair of the second portions 50 b and 52 b are housed and fixed inside the recesses 16B. Therefore, the heat generated in the electronic circuit board 24 is conducted directly to the outer surface of the heat discharge shell 16 through the right wing 50 and the left wing 52. A depth of the recess 16B corresponds to a thickness obtained by adding a thickness of each of the wings 50 and 52 and a thickness of the adhesive. In a state where the second portions 50 b and 52 b are housed in the recesses 16B, a flat-surface state is formed. Alternatively, during the adhesion of the members, in order to achieve a superior thermal conductivity, there may be used an adhesive in which a heat conductive filler is mixed. Alternatively, grease having a heat conductive characteristic may be applied on the joining surface.

A pair of depressions 16C are formed on both sides in the Y direction on the inner surface of the heat discharge shell 16, and the ends of the backing case 33 are inserted into the depressions 16C. In other words, the backing case 33 is held and fixed by the heat discharge shell 16. Because the backing case 33 is fixed by the heat discharge shell 16 and the right wing 50 and the left wing 52 are fixed with respect to the heat discharge shell 16, the inner assembly 14 is reliably fixed to the heat discharge shell 16. As described above, the heat dissipation sheet has the rear wing 30 and the front wing 32, which are joined and fixed to the backing case 33. This structure also contributes to the fixation action of the inner assembly 14.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram of the heat discharge shell 16 described above. The heat discharge shell 16 is divided into 2 parts in the left-and-right direction, and is formed from a right side portion 16-1 and a left side portion 16-2. As described above, the slits 16A are formed on the right side surface and the left side surface of the heat discharge shell 16, the right wing and the left wing are inserted into the respective slits 16A, and the right and left wings are fixed in a folded state. In FIG. 3, the second portion 52 b of the left wing is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat discharge shell 16 forms a structure as an outer skeleton, and has a very large surface area. Therefore, when the heat generated in the electronic circuit is conducted to the heat discharge shell 16, the heat discharge shell 16 as a whole can effectively discharge the heat to the outside environment. The outside environment in this case includes the periphery of the probe head through the outer skin, and also the insertion tube and the large number of signal lines or the like passing inside the insertion tube. With such a configuration, the generated heat can be absorbed with the large member while avoiding a local temperature increase, and, by discharging the absorbed heat through the large area, the temperature increase in the electronic circuit board can be effectively inhibited, and, consequently, the temperature increase of the array transducer and the transmission/reception surface can be effectively inhibited. In particular, in the present embodiment, the heat discharge shell 16 functions as a fixing member of the inner assembly 14; that is, the connection structure for fixation can be used as the heat dissipation structure, and, thus, an advantage can be obtained also from the viewpoint of the number of components.

FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the transducer unit 20 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, an upper part on the page is the living body side. The array transducer 54 is formed from a plurality of transducer elements 54 a arranged along the X direction and the Y direction. The array transducer 54 is formed from a material such as, for example, PZT (piezoelectric zirconate titanate), quartz, zinc oxide, or the like, or is formed from a composite material including such a piezoelectric material. The array transducer may also be formed by MUT. The thickness of the individual transducer element 54 a in the Z direction is set to around ¼λ with reference to a center frequency of the ultrasound.

A resonance layer 62 having a conductive characteristic is provided on the back surface side of the array transducer 54. The resonance layer 62 is formed by a plurality of resonance elements 62 a arranged along the X direction and the Y direction. The resonance layer 62 assists the transmission and reception of the ultrasound at the array transducer 54. The resonance layer 62 is formed from a material having a conductive characteristic, and is formed, for example, as a composite structure including cobalt, zirconia, a tungsten compound, or the like. The materials described in the present specification are merely exemplary. An acoustic impedance in the array transducer 54 is, for example, about 30 MRayls, and the acoustic impedance of the resonance layer 62 is, for example, about 70˜100 MRayls. In other words, in the present embodiment, the resonance layer 62 forms a hard backing layer, and the array transducer 54 and the resonance layer 62 together transmit and receive the ultrasound. The resonance layer 62 also has an electrical connection function between the array transducer 54 and the interface board. A thin metal foil forming an electrode is provided on an upper surface and a lower surface of each transducer element 54 a, and is formed from, for example, gold, silver, etc.

For reference, the acoustic impedances of the members on the back surface side of the array transducer 54 will be described. The acoustic impedance of the interface board shown in FIG. 1 or the like is, for example, about 19 MRayls, and the acoustic impedance of the electronic circuit board is, for example, about 17 MRayls. In other words, the interface board and the electronic circuit board have approximately the same acoustic impedance, and reflection of the ultrasound at the boundary surface of these boards is prevented as much as possible. The acoustic impedance of the backing member is, for example, about 15˜25 MRayls, and, with such a setting, the reflection of the ultrasound at the boundary surface between the electronic circuit board and the backing member is prevented to the extent possible. With such a configuration, the ultrasound exiting from the back surface side of the array transducer and the conductive resonance layer naturally reaches the backing member through the interface board and the electronic circuit board, and unnecessary ultrasound exiting to the back surface side is effectively attenuated and absorbed by the backing member. Even if reflection is generated at the back surface of the backing member 26, the reflected wave is also effectively attenuated and absorbed in the backing member. Therefore, the problem of the multiple reflection caused between the transmission/reception surface and the back surface of the backing member can be effectively prevented in cases, for example, in which the ultrasonic probe is left in the air. During the normal ultrasound diagnosis also, the unnecessary ultrasound exiting to the back surface side can be effectively absorbed, to improve image quality.

Referring again to FIG. 4, a first matching layer 56 and a second matching layer 58 are provided on the living body side of the array transducer 54. The first matching layer 56 is formed from a plurality of matching elements 56 a which are two-dimensionally arranged, and the second matching layer 58 is formed from a plurality of matching elements 58 a which are two-dimensionally arranged. A protection layer 60 is provided on the living body side of the second matching layer 58. The living body side surface forms the transmission/reception surface. Reference numeral 64 shows a separation channel formed between adjacent elements. The separation channel 64 may be an air layer, but in the present embodiment, silicone rubber or the like having acoustic insulating characteristic is filled in the separation channel 64.

FIG. 5 shows an example configuration of an electronic circuit 25 of the electronic circuit board. As described above, the array transducer 54 is formed by a plurality of transducer elements 54 a which are arranged two-dimensionally. In the present embodiment, a plurality of groups 66 are set for the array transducer 54, and each group 66 is formed from a plurality of transducer elements that are grouped in a predetermined shape. The electronic circuit 25 is formed by a transmission signal processing circuit 70 and a reception signal processing circuit 68. The transmission signal processing circuit 70 generates a plurality of transmission drive signals to be supplied to the plurality of transducer elements based on a transmission control signal (including a transmission trigger signal) from the device body side. One transmission signal processing circuit 70 may be provided for the entirety of the array transducer 54 or the transmission signal processing circuit 70 may be provided for each group 66. In either case, the transmission signal processing circuit 70 generates a plurality of transmission drive signals from one transmission control signal, and realizes a process corresponding to the channel reduction during transmission.

The reception signal processing circuit 68 is formed from a plurality of sub beam formers (SBF) 72 corresponding to the plurality of groups 66 in the present embodiment. Each SBF 72 executes a phased summing process (sub phased summing process) for the plurality of reception signals output from the corresponding group 66, to generate a group reception signal after phased summing. With such a process, a plurality of group reception signals are generated, a main phased summing process is executed at a main beam former (MBF) 74 on the group reception signals, and phase-alignment beam data corresponding to the reception beam are generated. Here, the MBF 74 is provided in the device body. Each SBF 72 executes the channel reduction during reception. In the present embodiment, for example, phased summing process is executed for 16 reception signals, to generate one group reception signal.

As heat is generated in the process of executing the transmission/reception signal processes, unless the heat dissipation process is effectively executed, the temperature of the electronic circuit board would be increased and the temperatures of the array transducer and the transmission/reception surface would also be consequently increased. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, with the above-described heat dissipation process; that is, with a process to conduct heat from the electronic circuit board to the heat discharge shell through the heat dissipation sheet (and the backing case), and with a process to discharge heat over the entirety of the heat discharge shell, it is possible to effectively discharge the heat generated in the electronic circuit board to the outside.

Next, an example operation of the probe shown in FIG. 1 or the like will be described. The probe head 12 shown in FIG. 1 is inserted from a mouth to the esophagus of a subject, and the probe head 12 is positioned at a predetermined position in the esophagus. With this process, the transmission/reception surface of the probe head 12 is set to be in close contact with the inner wall surface of the esophagus. By transmitting and receiving the ultrasound in this state; more specifically, by executing a two-dimensional scan of the ultrasound beam, a three-dimensional region including a measurement site in the heart is formed, and volume data corresponding to the three-dimensional region can be acquired. Based on such volume data, an ultrasound three-dimensional image representing the three-dimensional space is formed, or there is formed an arbitrary tomographic image representing an arbitrary cross section in the three-dimensional space or a tri-plane image representing a plurality of predetermined cross sections.

More specifically, during transmission, a transmission signal is supplied from the device body side through the cable to the probe head 12. The transmission signal is sent through the flexible board 36 or the flexible board 38, and the interface board 22, to the electronic circuit. The transmission signal processing circuit in the electronic circuit generates a plurality of transmission drive signals based on the single transmission signal, and supplies the plurality of signals to the plurality of corresponding transducer elements. In this case, the plurality of transmission drive signals are sent to the array transducer through the lead array formed on the interface board as described above. With the supply of the plurality of the transmission drive signals, a transmission beam is formed in the array transducer. In this process, if unnecessary ultrasound is emitted to the back surface side of the array transducer, the unnecessary ultrasound is effectively absorbed and reduced by the backing member 26.

On the other hand, during the reception, when a reflected wave from the inside of the living body is received by the array transducer, a plurality of reception signals are sent from the array transducer to the electronic circuit through the lead array 40 on the interface board 22. In the reception signal processing unit of the electronic circuit, a sub phased-summing process is executed for the plurality of reception signals in units of each group, to generate group reception signals. A plurality of group reception signals generated in this manner are transmitted to the plurality of signal lines through the flexible board 36 and the flexible board 38, and further to the device body. In the device body, the main phased-summing process is executed based on the plurality of group reception signals, to generate beam data corresponding to the reception beam. During the reception, even if the reflected wave appears on the back surface side of the array transducer, such unnecessary ultrasound is effectively reduced by the backing member 26.

Next, thermal action will be described. The heat generated at the electronic circuit by the transmission/reception signal processes or the like is conducted to the heat discharge shell 16 through the heat dissipation sheet joined on the back surface side of the electronic circuit board 24. Specifically, the heat conducted to the rear wing 30 and the front wing 32 of the heat dissipation sheet is conducted through the backing case 33 to the heat discharge shell 16. On the other hand, the heat conducted to the right wing and the left wing of the heat dissipation sheet is directly conducted to the outer surface of the heat discharge shell 16. In this manner, the heat can be effectively conducted to the heat discharge shell 16 through 4 wings. Because the heat discharge shell 16 is formed as a member having a very large thermal capacity and having a very large surface area, the conducted heat can be effectively discharged to the outside, and local heat generation can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the electronic circuit board 24 and the heat dissipation sheet is set higher than the thermal conductivity of the interface board 22, and thus, a large part of the heat generated in the electronic circuit board is conducted to the heat dissipation sheet. In other words, the interface board has a certain heat separation function, and even if there is heat conduction by the lead array 40, heat conduction to the array transducer through the interface board 22 is inhibited.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the backing member 26 is joined on the center part on the back surface of the electronic circuit board 24, and the heat dissipation sheet is joined at the peripheral region on the back surface. With such a configuration, the backing function provided by the backing member can be applied to a part where the propagation of the ultrasound tends to occur more easily, to effectively absorb the unnecessary ultrasound. On the other hand, in the peripheral region, heat conduction similar to that in the center region occurs, and heat can be effectively taken away from the peripheral region through the heat dissipation sheet. In other words, on the back surface side of the electronic circuit board, both absorption of the unnecessary ultrasound and heat dissipation for inhibiting heat generation can be realized. In particular, in the above-described embodiment, the backing member 26 is housed in the backing case 33, and the backing case 33 is surrounded by the rear wing 30 and the front wing 32. Thus, an outer skeleton can be constructed around the backing member 26 which is in general soft, and the entirety of the inner assembly 14 can be fixed by holding the backing member 26. As a result, firm holding of the inner assembly 14 on the living body side becomes not necessary. Alternatively, other fixation methods may be used for holding the inner assembly 14 as necessary.

Next, a manufacturing method of the probe shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6˜11.

In S10 in FIG. 6, a primary layered structure 75 shown in FIG. 7 is manufactured. That is, the primary layered structure 75 including the transducer unit 20, the interface board 22, and the electronic circuit board 24 is formed. The flexible boards 36 and 38 are attached to the interface board 22.

In S12 of FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 7, a heat dissipation sheet 76 is adhered onto the primary layered structure 75. The heat dissipation sheet 76 includes the body portion 77 having an opening 78, and a plurality of wings connected thereto. The plurality of wings include the rear wing 30 and the front wing 32 arranged along the X direction, and the right wing 50 and the left wing 52 arranged along the Y direction. Reference numeral 77A shows an area corresponding to the peripheral region on the back surface of the electronic circuit board 24. The form of the heat dissipation sheet 76 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 7.

In S14 of FIG. 6, the backing member and the backing case are adhered to the primary layered structure to which the heat dissipation sheet is adhered. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, a combined structure 80 is joined on the heat dissipation sheet 76. The combined structure 80 is formed from the backing member 26 and the backing case 33 housing the backing member 26. FIG. 9 shows a state where the combined structure 80 is placed upside down, and a projection 46 is formed on the center part on the living body side of the backing member 26. The combined structure is adhered on the heat dissipation sheet in such a manner that the projection 46 is fitted to the opening 78 shown in FIG. 7.

In S16 of FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 10, the rear wing 30 and the front wing 32 are folded in the back surface side of the backing case 33; that is, the upper side in FIG. 10, and adhered and fixed. With this process, the backing case 33 and the heat discharge sheet 76 are integrated.

In S20 of FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 11, the front side flexible board 38 is folded. Specifically, the front side flexible board 38 is folded to pass through the non-living body side of the backing case 33.

In S22 of FIG. 6, the assembly shown in FIG. 11 is placed in the heat discharge shell. Specifically, the heat discharge shell is assembled such that the backing case is sandwiched between two divided components, and, at the same time, the right wing and the left wing extend to the outside from the pair of the slits, and the inner assembly is placed within the heat discharge shell. In S24 of FIG. 6, the portions of the right wing and the left wing protruding from the slits are folded, and are adhered and fixed on the heat discharge shell. In S26 of FIG. 6, a wiring process, formation of the outer skin on the outer side of the heat discharge shell, and the like are executed, to form the probe as shown in FIG. 1.

As is clear from the above description, the rear wing and the front wing at the heat dissipation sheet achieve the fixation function of the backing case; that is, the backing member, and the right wing and the left wing at the heat dissipation sheet achieve a function to surround further from the outside the heat discharge shell which sandwiches the backing case. As a result of such multiple surrounding, the inner assembly is firmly fixed on the heat dissipation shell, and, at the same time, a reliable heat conduction route from the inner assembly to the heat discharge shell is constructed.

FIG. 12 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the example configuration of FIG. 12, a heat dissipation member 82 is formed as a block-shaped member, and an opening 84 is formed at a center part thereof. A backing member 86 is inserted and fixed in the opening 84. This composite structure is joined to the back surface side of the electronic circuit board.

In such an embodiment also, the backing member 86 can be joined to the center part on the back surface side of the electronic circuit board; that is, a part where the ultrasound propagation most easily occurs, and, because the heat dissipation member 82 is joined at the periphery, sufficient heat absorption can be realized by the heat dissipation member 82. In other words, with such a configuration, both the absorption function of the ultrasound and the heat dissipation function can be achieved.

FIG. 13 shows a two-dimensional region 88 corresponding to the array transducer. Reference numeral 90 shows an effective region actually used for transmission and reception, and is a circular region. In the setting of the region for joining the backing member, preferably, there is set a region having an area greater than or equal to 50 percent that of the entire region of the array transducer; specifically, the region at the center. In particular, as shown in FIG. 13, the backing region is preferably set as a region 92 which inscribes the effective region 90 actually used for transmission or reception or an equivalent region. According to such a configuration, the backing function may be achieved approximately uniformly over the entire array transducer.

The probe in the above-described embodiment is an esophagus probe, but the above-described structure may be applied to other body cavity insertion type probes, and also to probes other than the body cavity insertion type probe.

FIGS. 14-16 show second through fourth example structures of the backing case, which have different forms from that of the first example structure of the backing case shown in FIG. 1 or the like. In each of the drawings, the Z direction is a layering direction of the inner unit, which is at the same time the transmission and reception directions. The X direction is a probe insertion direction, and the Y direction is a direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Z direction and is also a left-and-right direction in the probe head.

In FIG. 14, a backing member 100 is formed from a relatively soft material that absorbs and scatters the ultrasound, or the like, and has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The backing member 100 has a first side surface 100 a, a second side surface 100 b, a third side surface (right side surface) 100 c, a fourth side surface (left side surface) 100 d, a front surface (surface on a transmission and reception side) 100 e, and a back surface (surface on a non-transmission and reception side) 100 f. On the outer side of the backing member 100, a backing case 102 is attached surrounding the backing member 100. The backing case 102 is formed from a relatively hard metal such as aluminum. The backing case 102 has a rectangular hollow frame structure, and more specifically has a first side surface plate 102 a, a second side surface plate 102 b, a third side surface plate 102 c, and a fourth side surface plate 102 d. When the backing case 102 is attached to the backing member 100, the first side surface 100 a is covered by the first side surface plate 102 a, and the first side surface 100 a and the first side surface plate 102 a are fixed by an adhesive. Similarly, the second side surface 100 b and the second side surface plate 102 b are fixed, the third side surface 100 c and the third side surface plate 102 c are fixed, and the fourth side surface 100 d and the fourth side surface plate 102 d are fixed. In this manner, the outer size of the backing member 100 and the size of the hollow portion inside the backing case 102 are substantially matched. The front surface (corresponding to a lower surface in FIG. 14) of the backing case 102 is an opening, and the back surface (corresponding to an upper surface in FIG. 14) of the backing case 102 is also an opening. For the fixation of the backing case to the backing member, in place of or in addition to the adhesive, a mechanical fixation method may be employed.

The backing member 100 has the same form as the backing member 48 shown in FIG. 1 or the like. That is, the backing member 100 has a protrusion partially protruding in the transmission and reception side (refer to FIG. 9). The heat dissipation sheet 76 shown in FIG. 7 is sandwiched between the front surface of the backing member 48 and the back surface of the electronic circuit board. The heat dissipation sheet 76 has the plurality of wings 30, 32, 50, and 52, and of these wings, the wings 50 and 52 are joined to the side surface plates 102 c and 102 d shown in FIG. 14. Lengths of the wings 50 and 52 may be set to match the heights of the side surface plates 102 c and 102 d. The protrusion is inserted into the opening 78 of the heat dissipation sheet 76, and propagates the ultrasound.

According to the structure shown in FIG. 14, similar to the structure of FIG. 1, the outer skeleton of the backing member can be formed by the backing case, and the inner unit can be placed in the probe head case using the backing case. In addition, the heat generated in the electronic circuit board can be discharged to the backing case through the backing member or the heat dissipation sheet, and further from the backing case to the probe head case. The block shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the backing case, in view of its function.

FIG. 15 shows a third example structure of the backing case. A backing member 104 has a form similar to that of the backing member 100 of FIG. 14, and has a first side surface 104 a, a second side surface 104 b, a third side surface (right side surface) 104 c, a fourth side surface (left side surface) 104 d, a front surface (surface on the transmission and reception side) 104 e, and a back surface (surface on the non-transmission and reception side) 104 f. A protrusion that passes through the opening formed in the heat dissipation sheet is formed on the front surface 104 e. On an outer side of the backing member 104, a backing case 106 is attached surrounding the backing member 104. The backing case 106 has a first side surface plate 106 a, a second side surface plate 106 b, and a back surface plate 106 e connecting the side surface plates. In other words, the backing case 106 does not have the right side surface plate and the left side surface plate, and the front surface side forms an opening. The backing case 106 is attached to the backing member 104, and the backing case 106 and the backing member 104 are fixed, for example, by an adhesive.

The heat dissipation sheet 76 shown in FIG. 7 is sandwiched between the front surface of the backing member 104 and the back surface of the electronic circuit board. The heat dissipation sheet 76 has the plurality of wings 30, 32, 50, and 52, and of these wings, the wings 50 and 52 extend around the side surfaces 104 c and 104 d shown in FIG. 15, and are joined to the back surface plate 106 e.

According to the third example structure shown in FIG. 15, similar to the above-described first and second example structures, the non-transmission and reception side end of the inner unit can be fixed in the probe head case using the backing case. In addition, the heat generated in the electronic circuit board can be discharged to the backing case through the backing member or through the heat dissipation sheet.

FIG. 16 shows a fourth example structure of the backing case. A backing case 108 has a first side surface 108 a, a second side surface 108 b, a third side surface (right side surface) 108 c, a fourth side surface (left side surface) 108 d, a front surface (surface on the transmission and reception side) 108 e, and a back surface (surface on the non-transmission and reception side) 108 f. The back surface 108 f has a protrusion 112 for ultrasound propagation. A height thereof corresponds to a sum of a thickness of the front surface plate 100 f of a backing case 110 to be described below and a thickness of a heat dissipation sheet (not shown).

Substantially the entirety of the backing member 108 is housed in the backing case 110. The backing case 110 forms a hollow box, and, more specifically, has a first side surface plate 110 a, a second side surface plate 110 b, a third side surface plate 110 c, a fourth side surface plate 110 d, a front surface plate 110 e, and a back surface plate 110 e. The plates are of equal thicknesses. An opening 114 is formed at a center part of the front surface plate 110 f. When the backing case 110 is attached to the backing member 108; that is, when the backing member 108 is housed and fixed in the backing case 110, the protrusion 112 is inserted into the opening 114. The heat dissipation sheet 76 shown in FIG. 7 is sandwiched between the front surface plate of the backing case 110 and the back surface of the electronic circuit board (not shown). In this case, the protrusion 112 shown in FIG. 16 is inserted into the opening 78 formed in the heat dissipation sheet 76. With such a structure, the ultrasound transmitted through the electronic circuit board is transmitted through the protrusion 112 to the body of the backing member 108, where the ultrasound is effectively absorbed. As shown in FIG. 7, the heat dissipation sheet 76 has the plurality of wings 30, 32, 50, and 52, and of the wings, the wings 50 and 52 are joined to the side surface plates 108 c and 108 d and the back surface plate 110 e shown in FIG. 16.

According to the structure shown in FIG. 16, similar to the first through third example structures, a hard backing case can be attached as the outer skeleton to the backing member, which is relatively soft, and the inner unit can be fixed on the probe head case using the backing member. In addition, because the heat generated in the electronic circuit board can be conducted to the backing case directly or through the heat dissipation sheet, the heat discharge effect can be improved. In the structure of FIG. 16, in order to place the backing member 108 in the backing case 110, the front surface plate 110 f or the back surface plate 110 e may be configured to be detachable.

In the second through fourth example structures shown in FIGS. 14-16 also, similar to the first example structure, the backing case (or a combined structure of the backing member and the backing case) is held (sandwiched) by the inner surface of the probe head case serving as the heat discharge shell. Specifically, a right end and a left end of the backing case (or the combined structure of the backing member and the backing case) are fitted to a right side depression and a left side depression formed on the inner surface of the probe head case. In the structure described above as the third example structure, the heat is conducted from the right side surface and the left side surface of the backing member directly to the inner surface of the probe head case. In place of or in addition to the above-described fixation method by fitting, other fixation methods may be employed. Such fixation methods include, for example, fixation by screwing, fixation by adhesive, or the like. Alternatively, the adhesive may be filled over the entirety of the inside of the probe head case. 

1. An ultrasonic probe, comprising: an inner unit including an array transducer having a plurality of transducer elements, a backing member that is provided on a side of a back surface of the array transducer and that attenuates ultrasound, and a backing case that surrounds and holds the backing member; and a probe head case that holds the backing case, wherein the inner unit is held by the probe head case via the backing case.
 2. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the backing case has a plurality of side surface plates that cover a plurality of side surfaces of the backing member.
 3. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the backing case has four side surface plates that cover four side surfaces of the backing member.
 4. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the backing case has a back surface plate that is connected to the plurality of the side surface plates and that covers a back surface of the backing member.
 5. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the backing case has a front surface plate which is a plate provided on a front surface of the backing case and which has an opening through which a part of the backing member passes.
 6. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein a right side inner surface and a left side inner surface of the probe head case hold a right end and a left end of the backing case.
 7. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 6, wherein a right side depression that houses the right end of the backing case is formed on the right side inner surface of the probe head case, and a left side depression that houses the left end of the backing case is formed on the left side inner surface of the probe head case.
 8. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the inner unit includes an electronic circuit board having an electronic circuit that is electrically connected to the plurality of transducer elements, and heat generated in the electronic circuit board is conducted to the probe head case through the backing case.
 9. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 8, wherein a heat conductive sheet is provided between the electronic circuit board and the backing member, the heat conductive sheet has a body portion and at least one wing that extends from the body portion toward an outer side, and the wing is joined to an outer surface of the backing case.
 10. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 9, wherein the heat conductive sheet has a front side wing and a rear side wing, and the front side wing and the rear side wing are joined to the outer surface of the backing case. 